Realistically if everyone (literally everyone) were given n95's used them, and washed their hands any time they touch something someone else touched without touching their faces: we actually could beat things like COVID and the flu.

What makes it unrealistic is that people aren't that far removed from monkeys, and behave like it.

[–] Chetzemoka@startrek.website 5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Not even N95s. If people just did the bare minimum and wore a surgical mask and washed their hands frequently the instant they felt like they might be sick, we would work wonders to reduce spread, morbidity, and lost wages/productivity. We just need the same simple politeness around respiratory illnesses that already exists in some Asian nations.

[–] 13esq@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

Do those Asia nations not have COVID or flu's?

[–] 13esq@lemmy.world -5 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (2 children)

I think that believing we could eliminate flu like viruses is extremely optimistic, but it's not something I can really argue against because it's just an opinion.

I mean, presumably you wear an N95 at all times and keep your hands meticulously clean, but when you get ill, it's just some other idiots fault.

But if they were eliminated, flu's are probably the most common things for keeping our immune system in practice. If we all had immune systems that are completely out of practice with dealing with viruses. What could go wrong?!

[–] Jax@sh.itjust.works 0 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Yes, the last line of my comment very clearly addressed why it's unrealistic.

[–] 13esq@lemmy.world 0 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Ok and my implication was that even with compulsory N95s and diligent hand washing that it would still be optimistic.

Are you wearing an N95 at all times you're in the vicinity of others and disinfecting your hands any time you've touched something that's been near yours or someone else's face? Because if not you're nothing but a virtue signalling hypocrit.

[–] Zaktor@sopuli.xyz 0 points 11 months ago (1 children)

We literally did beat one of the flu variants due to COVID prevention measures.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/09/covid-may-have-pushed-a-leading-seasonal-flu-strain-to-extinction/

[–] 13esq@lemmy.world 0 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

You said did. The article said may have.

There are 18 HA sub types and 11 NA subtypes. The article implies that it was the lockdowns that specifically harmed the spread of the flu.

How long do you want us to be locked down for in the attempt to eliminate the other 28 and the COVID variants too? Please consider that it would have to be a world wide lockdown.

I understand that many people people are happy to swap their freedom for an idea of safety, but many others value their freedom too highly.

Please understand that I'm not saying that the measures against COVID weren't effective. I'm saying that total eradication of COVID is an unatainable target.

Countries like Japan and Korea wear face masks as a normal part of their cultures and dirty behaviour is extremely frowned upon there. They still have flu and COVID.